WATER BIRDS 



289 



Order VIII. Paludic'olae, as the name indicates, are marsh- 

 inhabiting birds. The crane is a familiar example. 



The coot, or mud-hen, is abundant in reedy swamps, near 

 small creeks and shallow lakes. It is an excellent swimmer. Its 

 foot is scalloped or only half-webbed. It is omnivorous. 



The rails and cranes resemble large or overgrown Limicolce. The young 

 are precocial. These birds usually feed on surface materials rather than 



Fig. 236. A valuable bird in danger of extinction field plover, 

 book, U. S. Dept. of Agricul., 1907.) 



(Year- 



by probing in the mud, as the plovers and snipes do. The rails are chiefly 

 marsh or swamp birds of medium or small size. The Virginia rail is a little 

 smaller than a quail. " He is an odd-looking bird, with a half -quizzical, 

 half-cynical expression. His eyes are blood red and deeply sunk in the 

 long, narrow head." 



The cranes (Fig. 235), of which there are but three species in North 

 America, are easily distinguished by the long bill, long head, very long neck, 

 short, broad wings, short tail, and very long legs. They fly in single file 

 with legs and neck outstretched. The cranes resemble the rails in general 

 structure, but the herons in external form. 



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